Mr. Speaker, last year, I announced my intention to examine the additional year of instruction in our public secondary schools, with the intention of deciding whether it would continue.  Mr. Speaker, I held public meetings, which yielded useful feedback on the topic.  I was able to confirm that, indeed, there were students in the system who benefitted from the additional year as well as students who were being held back by the additional year.

Minister Speaker, thank you for this opportunity to provide an update on some education matters. The main areas of focus during our professional development sessions is physical literacy for all and critical literacy.  To promote physical literacy, Sports for Life Team and the BVI Olympic Committee graciously donated physical education equipment to the schools. I express my sincere appreciation to their generous donations.  In addition to the training that took place in August and November 2019, the final training is scheduled for 4^th – 15^th May, 2020. We also held our annual Excellence in Teaching workshops for teachers on Tortola and Virgin Gorda also as a part of on-going professional development.

Water Distribution

Mister Speaker, the pump at the Long Trench station has been installed.  The operationalization of this pump is dependent on an adequate power supply which necessitates a 480kw transformer which is now being installed by BVI Electricity Cooperation. This is expected to provide a consistent supply of water to the residents of Sea Cows Bay and surrounding areas.

Mister Speaker, I rise to update this Honourable House and the citizens of the Virgin Islands on the progress being made with my ministerial portfolio. The Ministry of Transportation, Works and Utilities (MTWU) continues to forge ahead towards the improvement of infrastructure and utilities of our beloved Virgin Islands.

Mister Speaker, since the decision was made by Cabinet to have the rehabilitation works on the R.T. O’Neal Administration complex carried out by the Ministry of Transportation, Works and Utilities, the Ministry has been hard at work.  As a matter of health and safety, it was decided that all occupants of the building needed to vacate the premises.  

Mister Speaker, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has partnered with Ultimate Vacation B.V.I Ltd. to ensure the success of the Ultimate Biker’s Run 2020 that is slated for March 29, 2020 right here on Tortola. 

In September 2007, CARICOM Heads of Government convened a summit on Non-communicable disease (NCDs) to address the social, economic and health burden of NCDs in member states. The key outcome of the Summit was the Port of Spain Declaration which provides a 14 point road map for CARICOM Countries to address several challenging issues collaboratively.  While the BVI Government did not participate in the summit, the Territory embraced the recommendations coming out of the CARICOM meeting.  

Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that can cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses like the common cold that can progress to more severe and fatal infections such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. At the end of 2019 new strain of coronavirus was detected in Wuhan City, China and later named coronavirus disease 2019 (or COVID-19) by the World Health Organisation (WHO).  On January 30, 2020 the WHO declared COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

Mister Speaker, today my words may not be capable of communicating my immense pride and honour in announcing that the official opening and dedication ceremony for the Nurse Iris O'Neal Medical Centre that will take place at Five O’Clock this afternoon on the grounds of the facility in the Valley, Virgin Gorda.

Mister Speaker, I take this opportunity to inform this Honourable House of the Deposit Insurance Policy that your Government intends to implement in 2020.